Jethro pulled the ropes tight, securing the old grandfather clock from Windfell’s hallway tightly onto the cart.

‘You’ll not be too hard on him, Jethro? Ethan’s only young and curious.’ Mazy looked at her husband, who had been in a mood since Danny Atkinson had told him of their son’s trip to Appleby with his daughter.

‘I’ll tell you what, woman: he’s got to learn his place in the world, instead of looking at what he can’t have. Bloody running away with Miss Rosie in search of his grandfather. I’ll give him something to remember his grandfather by. This isn’t the first time he’s messed about with the lasses of the big house. I saw him trying to kiss Miss Jane, and told him to leave well alone. What’s wrong with the lad?’

‘Nowt’s wrong with him – he’s just young.’ Mazy watched as Jethro climbed up onto the cart and whipped the horses into action, making the bell on the grandfather clock chime with the jolting vehicle. It was rare that Jethro lost his temper, but he’d had time to brood on his son’s wild ways and that was always a bad thing.

‘I’m glad you could find time to bring the clock from Windfell, Jethro,’ said Archie as he watched the strong man lifting the oak-cased clock down from the cart, before hauling it on his shoulder into the farmhouse at Crummock. Jethro returned to the cart for the clock face’s case, then helped Archie carry the weight that pulled on the clock’s chains to make it work.

‘Aye, well, I need to square up that lad of mine while I’m here. I’m sorry he’s caused you and your family bother. He should have known better than to do that. You don’t bite the hand that feeds you.’ Jethro stood in front of Archie and wiped his brow with his neckerchief.

‘Nay, it was our Rosie just as much to blame. She’d paid for the tickets and put the idea in his head; they are a lot alike, those two.’ Archie looked at the brooding man and knew that Ethan was going to get the rough side of Jethro’s tongue.

‘Nay, they are not alike, if you don’t mind me saying, sir. Your Rosie is a lady, and my lad needs to know his place.’ Jethro spat out a mouthful of saliva and grabbed the horses’ reins. ‘Is he in the stable, our lad?’